Animated device for ornamental and advertising purposes



1949 J. s. THATCHER ANIMATED DEVICE FOR ORNAMENTAL AND ADVERTISINGPURPOSES Filed March 6 1945 Patented Nov. 15, 1949 ANIMATED DEVICE FORORNAMENTAL AND ADVERTISING PURPOSES John Stanley Thatcher, Blackpool,England Application March 6, 1945, Serial No. 581,283 In Great BritainMarch 14, 1944 1 6 Glaims.

This invention relates to animated devices for ornamental andadvertising purposes and the object of the invention is to provide animproved device for such purposes which is of simple construction andeffective in use.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a threedimensional object, for example a model ship which is so mounted orsupported as to simulate combined pitching and rolling movements toproduce the realistic effects of a ship in water. ihat is to say, thepresent invention provides an animated device, for advertising andornamental purposes comprising an object or model having depth andperspective supported at one end on a cam surface while near itsopposite end the object or model is supported on an axle or rod disposedat an oblique angle across the longitudinal axis of the object or model,so that when the cam means is suitably rotated the oscillation of theobject about its pivotal axis on the rod or axle will impart alongitudinal dipping and rolling motion to the entire object.

A further object of the invention is to provide an object such as amodel ship which because of the nature of its supporting means may bereadily placed in an opening in a platform arranged above the rotatingcam means, and also readily removed from said opening, when desired, topermit the substitution of another ship having different characteristicsfrom the one removed. In other words, one of the features of theinvention is to provide means which permits the ready interchangeabilityof models in respect to the supporting and operating means.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which the figure is a perspective view of an advertisingdevice including the present invention.

As shown in the drawing, the invention may be embodied in an appropriatecabinet or casing, such for example, as a clock cabinet or housinghaving an opening or window through which the ship or other object maybe readily seen. As shown, the cabinet or casing may be provided with aplatform in viewing relation to the window, platform having an openingfor receiving a miniature model ship. The area surrounding said platformmay be decorated to simulate the sea and other suitable scenicbackground.

According to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, a device having the said member in the form of aminiature model ship is shown incorporated with an electric clock, andwherein a bracket 4 rotatably carries a spindle I having secured theretoa cam 2 formed with relative high and low surfaces and a suitable gearwheel 3 which engages and is driven by an existing pinion (not shown)found in and revolving at a speed peculiar to electric clock movements.

The model ship 5 is pivotally mounted on a horizontal axle 6constituting the pivotal axis, passing through a groove with a borewhich is larger in diameter than the diameter of said axle in the bottomof the ship at an angle to the longitudinal axis thereof andconveniently located at a distance from the rear or stern end of theship by about one third of the total length thereof.

The front end of the ship is supported by means of a support whichserves as a cam follower 1 which is secured to and depends from theundersurface thereof to bear against the face of relative high and lowsurfaces of the cam 2.

The rotation by the clock movement of the cam 2 imparts an oscillatingmovement to the ship about the axle 6 which, by virtue of being inclinedto the longitudinal axis of the ship, be-

comes a combined longitudinal dipping and a lateral rolling motion.

The model ship which may be any type of seagoing vessel, fits into anaperture cut out in the sea simulating base, so that no part of themechanism can be seen.

As the ship is only supported on the axle 6 and the front cam follower 1it can be readily lifted out and replaced by another type of vesselprovided the models are made interchangeable.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that the distinctive feature ofthe present invention resides in providing a three dimensional objectsupported near its rear end on a horizontal member in the nature of arod or axle which is, disposed at an oblique angle to the longitudinalaxis of the body, to provide a line contact while near its front end theobject is provided with a depending supportin member adapted to engagethe high and low surfaces of a cam, which upon rotation imparts arocking motion to the object on the angularly disposed support therebyto impart a longitudinal rocking or pitching motion to the objectsimultaneously with a lateral rolling thereof to produce the realisticeffects of a ship in water, or a similar object having the compoundmotion referred to.

Although in the above described example of this invention the saidmember has been described as being in the form of a ship, said membermay be in any other form, such for example as a model aeroplane, a modelhuman or animal figure or any pictorial representation, preferablyassociated with an appropriate background.

Such models or representations may be formed as an integral part of saidmember or said member may be in bar or other suitable form to constitutea separate base to which the model or representation is permanently ordetachably secured.

Further in the construction of the device which is not incorporated withan electric clock or driven by electric clock movement, the device maybe driven by any other suitable prime. mover,,

such as an electric motor associated with suitable gearing.

I claim:

1. An animated device for advertising and ornamental purposes, comprisng, in combination, a platform having an opening therein, the uppersurface of said platform b ng decorated to simulate water; a threedimensional miniature model ship detachably and movably mounted in saidopening, said ship having a "pore in. the rear of the bottom of its hullporti a disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis thereof, a zontalaxle secured. to the under surface c .d platform and extending acrossthe platform opening adapted to loosely engage in and make line contactwith the said groove in the be of the ship, to permit limited lateralmovem to thereby pivotally mount the same toward the stern, a camfollower secured to the front end of the ship and depending below theunder surface of the platform to support said front end the ship, arotatable member including a surface having relative high and low pointsadapted. to contact the end of the said cam follower below the platform,and means adapted to impart rotary movement to the said member, wherebydipping and rolling movements are simultaneously imparted to said shipto produce the realistic effects of a ship in water.

2. An animated device for advertising and ornamental purposes,comprising, a three dimensional miniature model ship having a transverseangular groove formed in the bottom surface thereof, a horizontal axledisposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the model ship adaptedto fit loosely within said groove and to make line contact with thegroove for supporting the model ship towards its stern, a cam followerdepending from the front end of the ship to sup port the front endthereof, and a cam having a surface formed with high and low points forimparting oscillatory movement to the cam follower to thereby cause adipping and rolling movement of the ship on said axle, a shaft for saidcam, a gear wheel keyed to said shaft, and power means in mesh with saidgear wheel to drive the cam.

3. An animated device for advertising and ornamental purposes,comprising, in combina tion, a platform having an opening therein, anelongated three-dimensional object having a groove extending across itsbottom face at an angle oblique to the longitudinal axes of the object,an axle carried by the under side of the platform and extending acrossthe opening therein said axle fitting loosely in said groove to supportthe object near one end for rocking and rolling movement, a supportdepending from the front end portion of the object, a cam having asurface engaging the lower end of the support, said surface includinghigh and low points for imparting a dipping and rolling motion to theobject, and means for driving said cam.

4. An animated device for advertising and ornamental purposes,comprising, a three dimensional miniature model, a horizontal axlemaking line contact loosely with the bottom of the model and disposed atan angle to the longitudinal axis of the model for demountablysupporting said model towards its rear end and to effect lateralmovement of the model thereby to permit a dipping and rolling movementthereof, a cam follower depending from the front end of the model tosupport the said front end, and a cam having a surface formed withrelatively high and low points for imparting said clipping and rollingmovement to the model through said cam follower as it foilows the saidhigh and low points of the cam surface, and means for driving the cam.

5. An animated device for advertising and ornamental purposes,comprising, in combination, a three dimensional miniature model ship, ahorizontal axle disposed at an angle oblique to the longitudinal axis ofthe model ship for making line contact with the bottom of the ship andloosely supporting the latter towards its stern, a cam followerdepending from the front end of the ship to support said front end, acam formed with high and low surfaces for imparting oscillatory movementto the said cam follower, and means for driving said cam.

6. An animated device for advertising and ornamental purposes,comprising, a three dimensional miniature model, a horizontal axledisposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the model for makingline contact with the bottom of the model and loosely supporting saidmodel towards its rear end to permit lateral movement of the model, tothereby effect a dipping and rolling movement thereof, a cam followerdepending from the front end of the model to support the said front end,and a cam having a surface formed with relatively high and low pointsfor imparting said dipping and rolling movement to the model throughsaid cam follower as it follows the said high and low points of the camsurface.

JOHN STANLEY THATCHER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 668,686 Marshall Feb. 26, 19011,788,921 Maas Jan. 13, 1931 1,913,150 Atwater June 6, 1933

